Texas leads the nation’s death penalty states in executions. Look back at notorious death penalty cases from the Houston area.

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Edgar Tamayo Arias, 46, was put to death on Jan. 22 for the 1994 murder of Houston police officer Guy Gaddis. The Mexican man's case rallied supporters in his homeland and the U.S. Advocates say his right to contact his consulate was violated.

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Kimberly McCarthy was convicted in the 1997 robbery and killing of her elderly neighbor. In June, she became Texas' 500th execution since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982.

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In this Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, photo, George Rivas speaks about his part in the crime rampage by the Texas Seven from death row in the Allan Polunsky Unit prison in Livingston, Texas. On Dec. 13, 2000, Rivas’ gang overpowered workers at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Connally Unit prison in Kenedy and stolThe leader of the fugitive gang known as the "Texas 7" was executed February 29, 2012 for killing a suburban Dallas police officer during a robbery 11 years before after organizing and pulling off Texas' biggest prison break.

Last words:"Yes, I do. First of all for the Aubrey Hawkins family, I do apologize for everything that happened. Not because I am here, but for closure in your hearts. I really believe that you deserve that. To my wife, Cheri, I am so grateful you're in my life. I love you so dearly. Thank you to my sister and dear friend Katherine Cox, my son and family, friends and family. I love you so dearly. To my friends, all the guys on the row, you have my courtesy and respect. Thank you to the people involved and to the courtesy of the officers. I am grateful for everything in my life. To my wife, take care of yourself. I will be waiting for you. I love you. God Bless. I am ready to go"

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Cantu was described as the leader of small gang known as the Black and Whites. On June 24, 1993, the group was conducting a fight-filled initiation ceremony for a prospective member across from T.C. Jester Park when Ertman, 14, and Pena, 16, crossed their paths while taking a shortcut home. The girls were hurrying along railroad tracks in the dark in order to get home by their curfew. They were spotted by the group, pulled off the tracks and taken into nearby woods where they were sexually assaulted. When the attackers were finished, the girls were taken deeper into the woods where, at Cantu’s urging, they were beaten, strangled and stomped to death.
This offender declined to make a last statement.

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At about 2 a.m. Sept. 5, 1990, Rodriguez and his cousin, James Gonzales, 17, wanted to live out "some of that movie stuff." As they drove around, another motorist somehow angered Rodriguez and he fired several rounds at his car. By the time they pulled beside Gee's Honda at a Meyerland-area intersection, James Gonzales' Oldsmobile was almost out of gas. Gee was alone in her car — an ideal target. Gonzales leaned back in his passenger seat as Rodriguez pointed his stepfather's rifle at the woman. He meant to shoot her shoulder, but shot her in the temple, he said in his confession. Rodriguez shoved Gee's body onto the street and sped away in her car, which was covered in blood and brain matter.
Last words: "First of all, you have every right to hate me and every right to want to see this. To you and to my family, you don't deserve to see this. I wasn't going to apologize by letter, I wanted to apologize face to face. None of this should have happened. It is the right thing to do. I have a good family, just like you are a good family. I hope that any bitterness that you have because of what I did, I hope you can learn to forgive. I asked my family to contact you, because they did no wrong. I am responsible and I am sorry to you all. Thank you all my Jefe (dad), my brothers, Maria and my Grandfather. Thank you, we will see each other again. Thank you, Lord Jesus receive my spirit."

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On June 24, 1993, O'Brien took part in the brutal gang rapes and murders of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Peña, 16, after the girls stumbled into a drunken midnight gang initiation rite in T.C. Jester Park.

Last words:"I do. I am sorry. I have always been sorry. It is the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life. Not because I am here, but because of what I did and I hurt a lot of people - you, and my family. I am sorry; I have always been sorry. I am sorry. You look after each other. I love you all. Be there for one another. Alright. But I am sorry; very sorry. I love you too. Alright."

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Angel Maturino Resendiz, the serial killer who claimed he was half-man, half-angel and could not be killed, was executed for the December 1998 murder of West University Place physician Claudia Benton. Maturino Resendiz, 46, who killed as many as 14 people as he criss-crossed the nation by rail and in the process came to be known as the "Railroad Killer" was the 13th person to be executed in Texas this year.

Last words: "Yes sir. I want to ask if it is in your heart to forgive me. You don't have to. I know I allowed the devil to rule my life. I just ask you to forgive me and ask the Lord to forgive me for allowing the devil to deceive me. I thank God for having patience with me. I don't deserve to cause you pain. You did not deserve this. I deserve what I am getting."

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Green was executed for the shooting deaths of Helen O'Sullivan, 63, and Edward Perry Haden, 72.

Last words:"Yes I do. To my family, to my friends, and people who have accepted me for being the person that I am. To the Sullivan and Hayden families, I do not come here with the intention to make myself out to be a person that I am not. I never claimed to be the best person. I am not the best father, the best son, or the best friend in the world. I did the best I could with what I had. I come with no hate in my heart or bitterness. To my family and to you people, I can only apologize for all the pain I caused you. May God forgive us on this day. I am ready when you are."

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Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed in 2004, convicted of murdering the youngsters in a deliberately set 1991 Christmas-season fire at his Corsicana home. Willingham consistently protested his innocence, however, and three expert reviews of fire investigations that contributed to his conviction agreed that evidence at the gutted house was misinterpreted.

Last words:"Yeah. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man - convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. I gotta go, road dog. I love you Gabby. (Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.)"

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Recruited by a middle man, Janecka was the "hit man" who erased Markham Duff-Smith's four immediate family members in return for a few thousand dollars, according to testimony. The scheme was designed for Duff-Smith, an investor, to inherit the bulk of his family's $800,000 estate.

Last words:"First of all, I want to say God bless everyone here today. For many years I have done things my way, which caused a lot of pain to me, my family and many others. Today I have come to realize that for peace and happiness, one has to do things God's way. I want to thank my family for their support. I love you. I am taking you with me. You all stay strong. I love you. I also want to say thanks to the Chaplains who I have met through the years and who have brought me a long way. And I cherish you as my family and at this time...oh, Ken, my little son, I am coming to see you. Oh Lord, into your hands I commit my spirit. Thy will be done."

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On July 20, 1992, hours after being fired from the latest in a string of failed jobs, he stabbed and slashed 7-year-old Kynara Carreiro 23 times, five times in the face. Kristin Wiley, her 10-year-old friend, was stabbed 18 times. Both were stabbed in the eyes. Neither girl was sexually assaulted. Mays, who sometimes entertained children as Uh-Oh the Clown, blamed his actions on a bad day.

Last words:"I would like to say a final prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you today, Lord, and thank You for this opportunity to be with You in paradise. I ask You for forgiveness for the ones that need to be forgiven. Dear Lord, deliver us from evil and give us the comfort and peace and joy that we need. Dear Lord, I ask You right now to be with each of the witnesses and lift them up and be on solid ground. Let them know what has gone on and may we all see each other again. Amen. I would like to thank each witness: Ms. Cox, Whiteside, Reed, Scott, and Chad. I am going to go and see Jesus tonight and reserve a special place for each one of you. You all have been there when no one else was. Thank you for all of your love and support. Just know that I am ready to go. You all know what I've gone through. I am going to a better place with the Lord. I'm mad for one reason, that I'm leaving you behind, when I am going to a better place. Y'all still have to go through this hell on earth. Just remember the good things and not the bad. You are all loved and respected. Warden, just give me parole and let me go home to be with the Lord."

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Five bodies -- an entire family save one -- lay inside the modest Spring Branch home, killed by fire and human hand. Each was bound with plastic zip cords, the same used to tie down hoses or handcuff prisoners. Their heads were covered with plastic trash bags taped tightly around the neck. Two were fortunate enough to die before the fire began to rage. Three were not.

Last words:"I'm innocent. I had nothing to do with my family's murders. I want to thank everyone who has supported me. I hope they continue to fight. You know who you are. That's all. Thank you, Warden."

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Gary Graham, also known as Shaka Sankofa, who was executed June 22, 2000 for robbing and killing a man in 1981.

Last words:"I would like to say that I did not kill Bobby Lambert. That I'm an innocent black man that is being murdered. This is a lynching that is happening in America tonight. There's overwhelming and compelling evidence of my defense that has never been heard in any court of America. What is happening here is an outrage for any civilized country to anybody anywhere to look at what's happening here is wrong. I thank all of the people that have rallied to my cause. They've been standing in support of me. Who have finished with me. I say to Mr. Lambert's family, I did not kill Bobby Lambert. You are pursuing the execution of an innocent man. I want to express my sincere thanks to all of ya'll. We must continue to move forward and do everything we can to outlaw legal lynching in America. We must continue to stay strong all around the world, and people must come together to stop the systematic killing of poor and innocent black people. We must continue to stand together in unity and to demand a moratorium on all executions. We must not let this murder/lynching be forgotten tonight, my brothers. We must take it to the nation. We must keep our faith. We must go forward. We recognize that many leaders have died. Malcom X, Martin Luther King, and others who stood up for what was right. They stood up for what was just. We must, you must brothers, that's why I have called you today. You must carry on that condition. What is here is just a lynching that is taking place. But they're going to keep on lynching us for the next 100 years, if you do not carry on that tradition, and that period of resistance. We will prevail. We may loose this battle, but we will win the war. This death, this lynching will be avenged. It will be avenged, it must be avenged. The people must avenge this murder. So my brothers, all of ya'll stay strong."

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Karla Faye Tucker was executed for the 1983 pick-ax slaying of a Houston man.

Last words:"Yes sir, I would like to say to all of you – the Thornton family and Jerry Dean’s family that I am so sorry. I hope God will give you peace with this. Baby, I love you. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Everybody has been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. You have been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you."

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Timothy O'Bryan, and 8-year-old Deer Park boy, died Oct. 31, 1974, after eating trick-or-treat candy laced with cyanide. Within days, his father, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, stood accused of staging the crime as part of a life insurance scheme. The case horrified parents and helped usher in an era in which carefree costumed trick-or-treating has given way to X-rayed candy bags and tightly controlled Halloween parties and festivals.

Last words: "What is about to transpire in a few moments is wrong! However, we as human beings do make mistakes and errors. This execution is one of those wrongs yet doesn’t mean our whole system of justice is wrong. Therefore, I would forgive all who have taken part in any way in my death. Also, to anyone I have offended in any way during my 39 years, I pray and ask your forgiveness, just as I forgive anyone who offended me in any way. And I pray and ask God’s forgiveness for all of us respectively as human beings. To my loved ones, I extend my undying love. To those close to me, know in your hearts I love you one and all. God bless you all and may God’s best blessings be always yours. Ronald C. O’Bryan P.S. During my time here, I have been treated well by all T.D.C. personnel."

HUNTSVILLE – Harris County killer Suzanne Basso, condemned for murdering a developmentally disabled man to claim his life insurance benefits, was executed in Texas' death House Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review issues presented in a final death-day appeal.

Basso, 59, a one-time seamstress from New York, led a group of five accomplices in brutally beating and kicking Louis "Buddy" Musso, 59, to death in August 1998. Basso had lured Musso to Texas from New Jersey with the promise of marriage.

In the days leading to his death, court documents indicate, Basso, who then weighed more than 300 pounds, repeatedly jumped on Musso, who had been forced onto his hands and knees. The attack broke many of his ribs. The attackers also beat the man with a belt, kicked him with heavy boots and scrubbed his body, doused in a mixture of chlorine bleach and pine oil disinfectant, with a wire brush. Musso's battered, bruised body was found near a Harris County road. Authorities said his death was caused by a fractured skull.

In his final appeals on Basso's behalf, League City lawyer Winston Cochran early Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of Texas' law to establish a killer's competency to be executed. Under the law, a killer must be aware that he will be executed and why.

Cochran argued that the Texas standard does not adequately give weight to a killer's delusional thinking. Basso, he noted, repeatedly told improbable stories, including one in which she was an aide to former New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. In another, she claimed a nurse had tried to kill her by hiding a snake in a hollow book given to her as a gift.

Basso claimed she suffered beatings in the Harris County Jail that left her paralyzed from the chest down, but, Cochran said, her paralysis actually resulted from a chronic, degenerative disease.

Two psychiatrists who had examined Basso testified in a Houston competency hearing that she met the Texas standard for execution.

Basso was the 510th killer and fifth woman executed in Texas since the state reinstituted capital punishment in 1982.

Her accomplices are serving prison terms ranging from 20 years to life.